From Mandalay to SingaporeBack to video

For our last day in Mandalay, we start out by taking a cruise about 10 km down the Irrawaddy Rover to the Mingun Pahtodawgyi, a massive but unfinished stupa monument. The most startling part of the journey was getting on board the boat; we needed to walk a fairly wobbly gangplank and step across two other boats to reach the one that was going to take us to our destination.

The challenge of boarding our boat on the Irrawaddy RiverRic Ernst/VANCOUVER SUN

Fortunately, we had a lot of helpers, holding a hand-held bamboo railing for support and watching our every step. The river trip was extremely relaxing. Like sliding through a watercolour painting with the banks of the river shrouded in a light mist. We could see low narrow fishing boats in spots and also working tugs shunting cargoes of cut timber.

Girl selling fans on the banks of the Irrawaddy River

The monument was a huge construction project started by King Bodawpaya in 1790 but was apparently deliberately left unfinished.

Mingun Pahtodawgyi,

When we arrived, we found children swimming in the river and lots of women and girls on the banks of the river selling souvenir items. We walked up to the monument and then on to see the giant Mingun Bell, a massive 199,999 pound bell

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Novice nuns ring the great Mingun BellRic Ernst/VANCOUVER SUN

The Mingun Bell is a bell located in Mingun, Sagaing Region, Myanmar. It is approximately 11 km north of Mandalay on the western bank of the Irrawaddy River. It was the heaviest functioning bell in the world. We were encouraged to sound the bell by taking a large bamboo prod to hammer against the rim of the bell to make a deep gong sound.

Feet under the great Mingun BellRic Ernst/VANCOUVER SUN

A little further on, we came to the Hsinbyume Pagoda, a pure white temple with seven sets of waves and seven sets of “mountain ranges” supposedly symbolizing the mythological mountain of Mount Meru. It is a work dedicated to a princess who died in childbirth near the site in 1812.

At the Hsinbyume PagodaRic Ernst/VANCOUVER SUN

Back on the boat, we cruised back towards Mandalay and then went to the airport to catch our plane back to Yangon. From there, we flew the next morning to Singapore, where we checked into the Shangri-La Hotel. Our plan is to see the botanical garden here and the impressive orchid displays as well as the unique Gardens by the Bay area with its amazing hanging gardens and wall gardens.

More snaps

Shangri-La Hotel, SingaporeKevork Djansezian/Getty Images for NARASGarden balconies at the Shangri-La Hotel, SingaporeEnjoying a beer on the Irrawaddy RiverTom C./Google MapsNegotiating with peddlers at Hsinbyume PagodaHandoutOur driver at Mingun PahtodawgyiRic Ernst/VANCOUVER SUNTropical gardens at the Shangri-La Hotel, SingaporeCHAD HIPOLITO/THE CANADIAN PRESSOur guide, Al, pointing out temples on the banks of the IrrawaddyRic Ernst/VANCOUVER SUNRoses floated in containers at our restaurant on the banks of the Irrawaddy RiverMark van Manen/Vancouver Sun

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